TC88 lifespan
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Cruiser
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From: Canada
TC88 lifespan
After researching the potential lifespan of my hydraulic cam tensioners in my '11 Deluxe I came across very low mileage TC88 having issues with them. I had a '04 Heritage and went 152,000 km before swapping to gear drive. Then I crashed but that's another story. Just wondering if many others got that kind of life on their 88's. Please weigh in on my '11's tensioners as well.
Last edited by tafdeluxe; Mar 15, 2017 at 07:13 PM.
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Where as the original tensioners were sprung and pushed fairly hard against sometime dubious chains that could eventually wear them down and destroy them, the hydraulic type arnt under so much tension, and are pushing against better roller chains. I've got the first, which I changed at 30,000 miles, although they were hardly worn, but from what I've read on here over the years from people with the hydraulic type it's a good idea to at least check them at around 50-55,000 miles, as anything being rubbed is going to eventually wear out. Though having said that they'll probably last for 80,000 or more miles.
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Cruiser
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From: Canada
Clears things up
Thanks Magna! The Indy that did my gear drive on my '04 was amazed at the longevity of my tensioners but I changed oil at 4000km intervals. I don't know if directly related but obviously doesn't hurt to change fluids early and often.
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The spring-type cam chain tensioners on the 88s are a wear item; some wear out sooner than others. By the time the original shoes are worn out, the cam chains will be polished, enabling the second set to last longer. At 50K miles, the tensioner shoes in my '04 RK looked like they could go another 20K miles.
I installed hydraulic/96" type tensioners at 50K miles, and I'll check them at 75K miles.
I installed hydraulic/96" type tensioners at 50K miles, and I'll check them at 75K miles.
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I did a top end on my 06 Softail at 87K. Pistons and jugs looked almost new but the heads had a lot of pitting, especially in the valve seats. Other than oil changes, and stage 1, I installed gear driven cams at 38K. If the heads weren't pitted, causing lost compression, who knows how many miles I could have gotten out of that engine.